JP4200066B2 - Paper sheet processing apparatus and paper sheet processing method using wireless data carrier - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus or method for handling paper sheets such as a postal sorting apparatus, and more particularly to double feed detection for detecting paper sheets conveyed in a stacked manner in a paper sheet processing apparatus or method.

  As a technology for detecting the multi-feed of paper sheets, the paper sheets are sandwiched and transported by a pair of transport belts that are paired up and down, and a pair of transport belts provided in the transport path are separated from each other vertically to sandwich the paper sheets A conveying path that forms an open space, a first sensor that detects that paper sheets pass through the open space, and a first paper sheet in the open space from a lower side with a predetermined height. And a second member for detecting the presence of the second paper sheet that hangs away from the first paper sheet when the first paper sheet is held by the holding member. And a control for detecting whether or not there is a second paper sheet depending on the signal from the second sensor while the passage of the paper sheet is detected by the signal from the first sensor. And a paper sheet multi-feed detection device. As such a technique, there is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-249261.

JP 2002-249261 A

  In the longitudinal detection device of the above technology, when paper sheets having different lengths with respect to the transport direction are double-fed, the pair of transport belts provided in the middle of the transport path are separated from each other in the vertical direction and do not sandwich the paper sheets. There was a problem that it could not be detected in an open space. For example, because the first and second mail pieces do not separate or hang down due to the first paper sheet catching on the margin of the second paper sheet, the paper sheet is detected as a double feed. There was a problem that could not be done.

  In the present invention, when reading wireless data carrier information provided on a paper sheet to be conveyed, the wireless data carrier of each paper sheet becomes unread due to radio wave interference or the like due to double feeding of paper sheets Alternatively, when wireless data carrier information is read continuously within a predetermined time, it is determined that the paper sheet is being double-fed, and the paper sheet is excluded to the exclusion box.

  Since the reading information or the reception information of the wireless data carrier equipped on the paper sheet is used, it is possible to detect the double feeding of the paper sheet with high accuracy regardless of the configuration of the paper sheet handling apparatus.

  With reference to FIG. 1, paper sheets to be processed according to the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, a postcard which is a postal matter is shown as an example of a paper sheet. The wireless data carrier 102 can be realized by, for example, a non-contact IC chip or a small wireless device. It is optimal to perform short-range wireless communication so that the set paper sheet and the wireless data carrier of the paper sheet being conveyed do not interfere with each other. In addition, as a form of equipment for the paper sheets of the wireless data carrier 102, for example, the wireless data carrier 102 can be pasted, punched and enclosed at an arbitrary position of the paper sheets 101. In such reading control of the wireless data carrier 102 provided in the paper sheet 101, double feed detection is performed.

  A paper sheet processing apparatus that processes the paper sheets described in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the paper sheet processing apparatus 201 includes a supply unit 202 that sets paper sheets to be machine-processed, a separation unit 203 that separates paper sheets sent from the supply unit 202 one by one and sends them to the conveyance path. A conveyance path 204 that conveys the paper sheet sent out from the separation unit 203, a wireless data carrier reading unit 205 for reading information of a wireless data carrier equipped on the conveyed paper sheet, and a transported paper sheet Address reading unit 206 for reading address information and bar code information printed and written, exclusion box 207 for collecting paper sheets such as multi-feed, wireless data carrier reading unit 205 or address reading unit 206 The reading result and control of the stacking box 208, the wireless data carrier reading unit 205 or the address reading unit 206 for sorting and collecting the corresponding paper sheets according to the instruction from the control unit 210 according to the reading result of Storage unit 209 parts 210 stores the time or the like that has received the result to a control unit 210 for controlling the respective units.

  As described above, the wireless data carrier reading unit 205 receives wireless data from a wireless data carrier equipped on a paper sheet. Therefore, in this description, reading refers to receiving wireless data and identifying the data. The wireless data carrier reading unit 205 is installed in the transport path 204 between the separating unit 203 and the address reading unit 206. By having the wireless data carrier reading unit 205 at this position, it is possible to lengthen the time until the multi-fed paper sheets arrive at the transfer switching point to the exclusion box 207, and to perform steady elimination. . Further, if double feed is detected, the address reading unit 206 can be omitted, and the sorting processing speed can be improved. However, it may be configured to be installed behind the address reading unit 206 and cancel the reading result of the address reading unit 206.

  In the above configuration, the supply unit 202 for setting paper sheets and the separation unit 203 for separating the paper sheets one by one and sending them to the conveyance path are individually configured. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . In other words, the supply unit 202 and the separation unit 203 in FIG. 1 have a single configuration, and a supply unit that separates and discharges the set paper sheets is provided, and the paper sheets are directly supplied from the supply unit to the conveyance path 204. A configuration is also possible.

  Next, a processing flow for detecting and removing the multi-feed paper sheets of the present invention in the paper sheet processing apparatus described in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the wireless data carrier reading unit 205 reads information on a wireless data carrier mounted on a paper sheet conveyed via the supply unit 202 and the separation unit 203 (STEP 301).

  If the wireless data carrier information has been successfully read (STEP 302), the reading result is transmitted to the control unit 210. After receiving the read result, the control unit 210 acquires the reception time by using the system clock of the present apparatus and stores the result in the storage unit 209 (STEP 303). Furthermore, the control unit 210 confirms whether or not the wireless data carrier reading result reception time of the paper sheet processed immediately before the paper sheet being processed by the wireless data carrier reading unit 205 is stored in the storage unit 209 ( (STEP 304). When the previous result (wireless data carrier read result reception time) is stored in the storage unit 209 in STEP 304, the control unit 210 reads the result from the storage unit 209 (STEP 305). Based on the wireless data carrier reading result reception time of the current processing target paper sheet acquired in STEP 303 and the wireless data carrier reading result reception time of the previously processed paper sheet acquired in STEP 305, the control unit 210 determines these times. Is calculated (STEP 306).

  The time difference acquired in STEP 306 is compared with a preset allowable time difference (STEP 307). If the acquired time difference exceeds the allowable time difference, there is a sufficient margin in the time difference for processing the paper sheets, that is, between the paper sheets. From the determination that there is a sufficient distance, the control unit 210 issues a passage instruction to the paper sheet processing apparatus 201 as not being double-fed (STEP 308). The passed paper sheets are classified and accumulated in the corresponding accumulation boxes 208 according to the reading result of the address information and barcode information printed and described by the location reading unit 206 (STEP 309).

  In STEP 310, the control unit 210 confirms the preset paper sheet classification and counting necessity information after stacking (STEP 310). If it is set to count the information, the control section 210 classifies and stacks the stacked paper sheets. Are counted (STEP 311). If it is set not to count in STEP 310, the process is terminated without counting the number of classified and accumulated paper sheets.

  In STEP 302, for example, when the wireless data carrier causes radio wave interference due to double feeding of paper sheets and the information is read error in the wireless data carrier reading unit 205, the time difference is calculated in STEP 307. If it is within the time difference, it is determined that there is no allowance for the time difference in processing the paper sheets, that is, there is not a sufficient distance between the paper sheets, and the control unit 210 Then, an exclusion instruction is issued to the corresponding paper sheet being conveyed (STEP 312). Note that the reading error is a reading error when a radio signal reception level is measured and an accurate signal cannot be received due to radio wave interference even though the level exceeds a predetermined level. Alternatively, the wireless data carrier reading unit 205 is configured to perform reception processing at regular intervals according to the paper sheet conveyance speed, and a reading error occurs when the wireless data carrier does not exist in the reception area and reception is not possible. It is also possible.

  The paper sheets for which the exclusion instruction is issued are sorted and accumulated in the exclusion box 207 (STEP 313). Note that, when there is no sufficient time difference, the exclusion instruction is issued to a paper sheet having wireless data used for comparison. In addition, when there is a reading error, there may be a case where it is possible to issue an exclusion instruction for a specific paper sheet. Therefore, the time for issuing the exclusion instruction may be set according to each cause.

  In such a paper sheet processing apparatus or paper sheet processing method for handling paper sheets such as postal items, two or more paper sheets set in the supply mechanism are separated, transported and sorted one by one. By reliably detecting and eliminating multi-feed paper sheets generated by separation, for example, multi-feed when sorting paper sheets according to address information and barcode information reading results printed and written on paper sheets It is possible to eliminate misclassification due to.

  Furthermore, in steps 310 and 311, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the multi-feed number is reflected in the classification / stacking number in the coefficient, so that an accurate processing number can be obtained.

  In the above description, the wireless data carrier reading unit 205 determines whether or not the wireless data carrier can be read, and the multi-feed is determined based on the time interval when the wireless data carrier is read. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a unique ID number such as a MAC address may be assigned to each wireless data carrier, and the ID number may be transmitted as wireless data. In this case, the determination can be made based on whether or not the ID can be read and the difference in the read ID number.

  In addition, since the above description assumes a mail sorting apparatus, an address reading unit for sorting mail, an accumulation box that sorts and accumulates in corresponding locations according to the reading result of the address reading unit, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, although the above description assumes postal items, the purpose of use is not limited to postal items, and the present processing apparatus or processing method can be applied to the purpose of sorting or counting paper sheets such as applicable securities. It is. Accordingly, it may be a paper sheet handling apparatus or method that does not include the address reading unit, the collection box, or the like, or may include an image recognition unit that reads and recognizes information on the paper sheet surface. Good.

Paper sheets with wireless data carrier attached, rolled in and enclosed Paper sheet processing apparatus for processing paper sheets Processing flow showing the flow of detection and discharge of multi-feed paper

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Paper sheets, 102 ... Wireless data carrier equipped with paper sheets, 201 ... Paper sheet processing apparatus, 202 ... Supply part, 203 ... Separation part, 204 ... Conveyance path, 205 ... Wireless data carrier reading unit 206 Address reading unit 207 Exclusion box 208 Storage box 209 Storage unit 210 Control unit

Claims (2)

A supply unit for separating and discharging paper sheets equipped with a wireless data carrier;
A transport unit for transporting paper sheets discharged from the supply unit;
A wireless data carrier reading unit that reads information on a wireless data carrier of a paper sheet being transported in the transport unit;
A processing unit for performing processing on the paper sheet;
A first box for collecting paper sheets processed by the processing unit;
A second box for collecting double-fed paper sheets ;
The time difference between the time when the wireless data carrier reading unit received the result of reading the wireless data carrier information of the previously transported paper sheet and the time when the result of reading the wireless data carrier information currently being conveyed is received is a predetermined time difference. If it does not exceed, the paper sheet processing apparatus has a control unit that determines that the paper sheet is being double-fed and classifies the paper sheet into the second box . Feeding the set paper sheets to the separating means;
Separating the paper sheets sent from the supply means one by one and sending them to the conveyance path;
A transport step for transporting paper sheets;
A wireless data carrier reading step for reading information of a wireless data carrier mounted on a paper sheet being conveyed;
An address reading step for reading address information and bar code information printed and written on paper sheets; and
A stacking step of sorting and stacking paper sheets into corresponding locations according to the reading result of the wireless data carrier reading unit or the reading unit such as an address;
A storage step of storing a reading result of the wireless data carrier reading unit or the reading unit such as an address;
Attached to the paper sheet during conveyance, when reading wireless data carrier information narrowing, or enclosed plow, when heavy this information by sending the paper sheet was unreadable, the paper sheet multi Okukamiha A paper sheet processing method having a step of sorting and accumulating in an exclusion box as a kind.

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